Byron, George Gordon, Lord--Nichol, John.

8vo extended to large folio, an extra-illustrated copy extended to two volumes with a supplied printed title dated 1897 and table of contents, about 170 items mounted into the volumes including 27 autograph letters and manuscripts by Byron, his family, friends, and other poets, as well as engravings, mezzotints, and lithographs depicting Byron and others, views of locations relating to the poet's life, and related illustrations, some hand coloured, all leaves in window mounts, in red morocco by Zaehnsdorf dated 1898, inside dentelles, marbled endpapers, lettering on spine, gilt edges, hinges tender, splitting at joints, slightly scuffed

Mrs John Hay Whitney, her estate sale, Sotheby's, New York, 23 April 1999, lot 429

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

a magnificent and unique commemoration of the life of lord byron, including autograph letters and manuscripts. There are three items by byron himself: a revised autograph draft manuscript fragment from 'The Bride of Abdyos' of 7 lines beginning "Eve saw it placed - the morrow gone"; an autograph letter signed, once enclosing a cheque, written during the Swiss holiday with Percy Bysshe and Mary Shelley that famously engendered Frankenstein (1 page, Villa Diodati, 16 September [1816]); and a late autograph note signed, to Mrs Spaling, 11 June 1823. There are letters by members of the poet's family including his great-uncle the 5th Lord Byron, his grandfather Admiral John Byron, his mother, and his wife. There are also items by three of Byron's lovers: Mary Musters (née Chaworth), Constance Spencer Smith, and Countess Guiccioli.

Byron's friends and fellow poets are amply represented in the collection. There are autograph letters by robert southey (to Messrs Longman, sending the manuscript of a book, 1 page, 14 March 1821), mary shelley (on an article by Thomas Medwin touching on Byron, 4 pages, Kentish Town), w.s. landor (to Lady Blessington, 5 pages), Charles Kemble, and J.C. Hobhouse. There are letters to Byron himself by isaac d'israeli, on 'The Corsair' ("...You have, my Lord, opened your heart to moral beauty, striking on its finest chord...", 2 pages, 1 February 1814); madame de staël, who praises 'The Prisoner of Chillon' ("...mais quelle talent! quelle découverte effrayante dans de nouvelles regions de doleur et ce n'est pas de l'amour - c'est ce qui n'est pas sujet au changement la mort et la mort dans la solitude...", 2 pages, n.d.); and samuel rogers, who writes in fanciful style with literary news (3 pages, 23 November 1820). As well as an autograph letter by thomas moore ("...Murray (between ourselves) is, I fear, playing me false on the subject of Lord Byron's life...", 1 page, 9 October 1826), the collection includes an autograph fair copy of the first stanza of his poem 'The Minstrel Boy' (signed and dated 21 September 1837), and there is also a 1-page revised manuscript fragment on Napoleon by caroline lamb.